Class collects more for needy

rstoy@thedailyreporter.com COLDWATER — The Downtown Business Authority Christmas parade did more than bring Santa Claus and the Grinch to the central business district Saturday.

In the DBA parade were members of the Kellogg Community College Service Learning class who, according to teacher Ann Lown of the Branch Area Food Pantry board, wanted to do one more class project.

They collected over $100 for the Feeding the Needy Christmas food distribution.

Ponderosa was also in the parade, having conducted their own food drive for the project, collecting over 500 pounds, and Gillespie Funeral Home and the Keith Bildner family provided a food drive and hot chocolate, cider, coffee and snacks after the parade.

Local banks are putting their mouths where there money is, planning to engage in a fundraiser for Feeding Branch County at Buffalo Wild Wings.

In alphabetical order, Century Bank and Trust, Flagstar, Honor Credit Union Monarch Community Bank, PNC and Southern Michigan Bank and Trust have challenged each other to a “wings eating contest,” according to Lown.

“Each institution has chosen the person designated to eat the wings. They will decide the ‘hotness’ of the wings, with each degree of hotness having a point value,” she said.

Members of the community who would support Feeding Branch County may go to their selected financial institution and help by donating to their team.

The public may also cheer them on Dec. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. and may purchase their own dinner, with 10 percent of all food purchases that evening going directly to the project.